APPENDIX III APPENDIX III 
or the gravid females found in such concentrations are not 
in demand or may not be legally taken. 
The opportunity to use crab scrapes to increase the 
harvest of soft-shell crabs has been ignored by soft-shell 
crabbers who seem reluctant to invest in new gear or change 
their shedding practices. Additionally, bottom conditions 
may preclude their use in some areas. 
On the Pacific coast, we found no obstacles hindering 
the use of efficient harvesting techniques. 
Product development and 
processing 
Growth of the blue crab fishery on both the Atlantic 
and gulf coasts is strongly inhibited by processing limita- 
tions. During peak periods, the supply occasionally exceeds 
the processing capacity of local plants. At these times, 
crabbers are asked to stop fishing or the catch is shipped 
QUEROL Meher aneae 
The blue crab industry at times has been affected by 
factors, such as development of the basket trade, labor 
supply problems, and fluctuations in resource abundance. 
Processors on the Atlantic coast stated that the basket 
trade, which involves selling large crabs live at premium 
prices, has deprived them of part of the resource. It is 
economically impractical for the processors to compete with 
the basket trade in buying large crabs. Consequently, they 
have to buy smaller crabs which are more difficult to pick 
by hand. 
According to processors, many members of the available 
labor supply seek other types of work or apply for welfare 
or unemployment compensation as alternatives to picking 
crabs. In part this is due to the unpleasant working condi- 
tions in a crab processing plant. Also, with small crabs 
to process, a crab picker has to work hard to earn sub- 
stantially more than the minimum hourly wage. Seasonal and 
yearly fluctuations in the supply of crabs affects the 
employment stability and adds to the problem. On the gulf 
coast, the problem appears to be that many people are will- 
ing to work provided the pay is under the table so that they 
can continue to collect welfare benefits. The industry has 
been reluctant to operate in this fashion, but if the labor 
shortage continues they may be forced to do so. 
With fewer large crabs to work with and with labor 
supply problems, the need for efficient mechanical processing 
76 
